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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Son(e)day, Sunda(y, Sono(u)nday, n. Also: sondaye, sonnday, sonda, -de, sounday(e, sownday, -die, sundaye, soon(e)day, schoonde, sonownday, sonanday, sonendaye. [ME and e.m.E. sundai (a1300), sunday (Manning), sonday (Trevisa), also sunenday (c1250), sononday (Cursor M.), sono(u)nday(e (c1400), OE sunnandæᵹ. Cf. ON sunnudagr.]

1. Sunday, the first day of the week. Also specif., the day set aside for Christian worship, the Lord's Day, the Sabbath.After 1560, also with preceding def. art. 1576 Bassandyne Bible, 1 Cor. xvi 1 marg.]
[Upon the first day of the weke which the Scripture calleth the Lords day, others Sonday(1) a1400 Leg. S. xl 770.
Fryday fra the novne Til Sonday at the mes be done a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 1360 heading (Asl.).
Heir followis for Sonday rememberance of the infinit glore of the hevinlie joye 1560 Bk. Disc. 238.
In everie notable toun we require that one day besydis the Sunday be appointed to the sermone and prayeris 1593 Acts IV 39/1.
The marcat day of the burgh of Foirfair … quhilk was Sonday is takin frome thame 1608 Glasg. Univ. Mun. III 520.
The flesh dayis viz. Sonday Monounday Tyisday Wedinsday and Furisday 1622-6 Bisset II 349/12.
The heresies of Pelagius … that wald nocht acknawelege the altering … of the Jowes Sabbat day or Setterday to oure Sonday the resurrectioun day of oure blissed salviour(b) a1400 Leg. S. xvii 199.
Apone the morne, it wes Sovnday ?1438 Alex. ii 7903.
Or Sounday was all gane, Attour thay passit war euir ilkane 1526 Acts II 314/2.
That thare be thre mercat dais wolklie in [Edinburgh] … for selling of flesche that is to say Sounday Monunday and Thurisday 1576 Breadalbane Ct. Bk. 19b.
The aill the broustaris brewis aganis Sounday That thai keip the same vnbrokin c1580 Maxwell Mem. II 145.
Sownday, Sounday, Soonday(c) c1580 Maxwell Mem. II 145 (see (b) above).(2) 1457 Acts II 48/2.
Ande at the bowe markis be maide at ilk paroch kirk a pair of buttis and schuting be vsyt ilk Sunday 1494 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 583.
Apon ane Sonday within the solempnite of the hee mesis 1579 St. A. Kirk S. 441.
To cum everie Sounday to the little kirk dure 1593 Elgin Rec. II 31.
The Catechisme is appointit … to be teacht at efter noonis … ilk Sondaye(3) 1562-3 Winȝet I 28/18.
To sanctifie the Sonday to be the seuint day 1562-3 Winȝet I 28/26.
Gif he can schaw na expres Scriptur tharfor, quhi abolissis he not the Sonday, as he dois Ȝule, Pasche [etc.] 1588 King Cat. Sig. h ijb.
The Sonday being thairefter amanges the Christians callit the day of our Lord 1598 Mill Mediæv. Plays 256.
Robert Stewart menstraller to be summonit … for prophaning the Sonday in West Fentoun(b) 1375 Barb. v 335.
The folk apon the Sonounday [C. Sononday] Held to saynct Bridis kyrk thar way c1420 Wynt. v 2666.
He bad that men be na way Sulde fast apon the Sonownday [C. Sonanday, W. Sonday](4) 1375 Barb. xi 381.
On Sonday than in the mornyng … [Thai] hard thar mes commounaly c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 18/84.
The sevin commandis of the kirk … To keipe the festuall and the fasting day, The mes on Sonday [etc.] 1519 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 54.
We ordand the flesch upone the mercat daye and Sondaye present the mercat and be nocht haldyn in hous 1570 Sat. P. x 333. 1587 Acts III 507/1.
The burgh of Craill is infeft of auld … in the libertie, priuilege [etc.] … of ane fre burgh … with ane fre mercat to be haldin vpoun Sonday 1596–7 Elgin Rec. II 46.
Walter Hay, … accusit for playing at the boulis and golff upoun Sondaye in the tym of the sermon 1599 Elgin Rec. II 73.
Some of the gardineris are licenciat to visie thair yairdis on Sondaye(b) a1400 Leg. S. xxv 128.
A housband … Telyt his land one Sownday 1558-66 Knox I 275.
That in all parochines … the Commoun Prayeris be redd owklie on Sounday(c) 1542 Douglas Corr. 147.
The said Erle come in one Soonday 1639 Acts V 594/2.
The feing of sheireris vpon Sooneday to be dischargit 1639 Acts V 595/1. — 1669 Alyth Par. Ch. 117.
[In May of the same year John Rattray and John Strachan] drave up som catall in Sownday in the evening to the highland(5) c1420 Wynt. v 1241.
He bad … that haly wattyr ay Suld be made on the Sownday c1490 Irland Asl. MS 44/30.
All the lawit peple ar ordanit on the Sondaye and festuale tymis to cum to the kirk and conforme thar entencioun and prayere to the kirk and ministeris of it 1562-3 Winȝet I 116/19.
To celebrat ȝour Sabbath day with ws Catholikis on the Sounday, and nocht with the Jowis on the Saterday 1562-3 Winȝet I 134/22.
Nocht on the samin Sonday as the Romane Kirk and all wtheris did 1597 Ellon Presb. 4.
Upon the Soneday(6) a1538 Abell 47b.
Paip Agapit … ordanit processionis on Sondais ?1542–3 Lanark B. Rec. 20.
That na merchand pas with hydis to kyrk merkattis on Sundayis 1579 Acts III 138/1.
Dischargeing of mercattis and labouring on Sondayis(7) 1456 Hay I 166/2.
Do mare the Sonday or the haly day na othir wolk dayes 1616 Orkney Witch Trial in Misc. Maitl. C. II 188.
Tak ane eg and rost it and tak the sweit of it thre Sondayis 1633 Strathbogie Presb. 6.
To sitte on the stoole of repentance tuo Soondays 1640 Mouswald Kirk S. MS 1 July.
Seconlie it is ordainit that everie adulterer shall stand tuellffe Sondays in sackclothe — 1657 Misc. Hist. Soc. VII 11.
Sunday: went to church(8) 1560 Bk. Disc. 238.
But the Sunday must straitlie be keipit both before and efter noon in all tounis 1570–1 St. A. Kirk S. 345.
Exhorting hym moest gentelye in the menetyme … that he wald keip Sunday and Wedinsday 1574 Murray Early B. Organ. I 256.
For kepyng of the Sondaye, it is … ordanit that ilk Sondaye befoir none ane of the baillies, with … sum vther honest men pas throuch the toun to vise tavernis(9) a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 489.
Everie day alike proud on the Sunday lyk a gorg [sic]

2. In various phrases specifying the Sunday(s) referred to.(1) a1400 Leg. S.vii 84.
Eftyr one the next Sonday, Jhesu … cane appere Til hyme 1486 Misc. Spald. C. V 30.
That Thome Gray … sal cum in his lynnyne clathis this next Sonday … bair fute [etc.] 1487–8 Prestwick B. Rec. 32.
Apoun Sonday next to cum 1488 Treas. Acc. I 90.
On Sonda next thareftir 1493 Dunferm. B. Rec. I 43.
ix houris befor none on Sonday as nixt cumis 1494 Acta Aud. 193/1. 1520 Dumfr. & Galloway Soc. XXXIX 61.
Ilk nycbour to mak vp his dykes and rowmis betuix this and Sonendaye nixt to com 1522 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 64.
This inquest ordanis ane wappinshawin to be haldin upone Sondaye at ane efternoyne nixt to cum 1587 Elgin Rec. II 8.
[They are to] stand in the jowggis on Sonday nixt 1603 Inverness Rec. II 10.
Ordainis him to be … joigit at the kirk dur on Sounday nixt 1612 Orkney & Shetl. Ct. Bk. (ed.) 23.
Upone the first laufull Sonday nixt heirefter following 1640 Kirkcudbr. Min. Bk. 40.
That he shall upon the Sounday thairefter, stand in the gorgets at the kirk of Balmaghie(2) 1398 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 38.
On the Sonday thre wikis efter Pase 1565 Canongate Kirk S. (ed.) 26.
To be chosin on Sonday cum aucht dayis(3) ?1543 Corr. M. Lorraine 26.
My lord governour com to Sanctandros this last Sonday at vj houris at evin, lugit in the abbay 1559 Misc. Wodrow Soc. 266.
The day of our ressoning … (quhilk wes Sounday last wes) 1583 St. A. Kirk S. 515.
Thai … playit in the golf feildis Sonday last wes 1595 Misc. Spald. C. II 131.
Fra Sonday last, the auchtene of this instant 1624 Elgin Rec. II 187.
[They] confessit they trewsche corne on Soonday last be aucht houris in the morning(4) 1489 Treas. Acc. I 109.
On Sonda the xxvj da of Aprill, to the King to offir a demy off golde 1512 Household Bk. Jas. IV 13a.
Sonday the xxvi day of September a1538 Abell 28a.
Wictor the paip declarit … that Pace day wes on Sondaye the 14 day … of Aprile 1547 Armstrong Hist. Liddesdale App. lxxxiii.
To iiij men that kepit xviij oxin of the lorde Yeisberris, fra Sounday xvijth July to Setterday 1555–6 Edinb. B. Rec. II 328.
Sonday, the nynt day of October, ressavit fra Johne Grahame and his marrow 1597 Household Bks. Jas. VI and Anne 6 Nov.
Sounday the sext nouember 1597 1669 Meikle Old Session Bk. 13.
Sowndie(5) c1515 Asl. MS I 229/26.
The ȝere of God [1460] the thrid Sonday of August King James … was at the sege of Roxburgh 1517 Mill Mediæv. Plays 140.
[They are to] pas with the saidez Robert & John all the Sondais of May … for honour of the townn 1533 Wigtown B. Ct. 277a.
One Soundaye eftir myssvmere daye 1539 Prot. Bk. Sir J. Cristisone 65.
That the said Thomas Leitht sall conweyne at the Kirk of Fintra upone ane Sonday betwix this and Lammes nixt cummis 1560 Bk. Disc. 240.
That the first Sunday of Marche be appointed for one [time] [sc. for a communion service] 1562 Montgomery Mem. II 188.
On Soundaye … ȝeir of God above vrittyne(6) a1400 Leg. S. xviii 123.
The fyrste Sonday [sc. of Lent] Ilke monk but mare delay … entryt in thare oratore c1490 Irland Asl. MS 40/29.
Fasting is ordanit … nocht the Sondayis of Lentryne 1501 Edinb. Hammermen 35.
Apon the Sovnday forow Corpis Christis day 1549 Balcarres P. 307.
I wes sa vexit with infermyties that I culd nocht cum heir quhill the Sonde before Fastrenns evin c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 1559.
Ane banket royall … he maid on the Sonday Precedand to Aschwednisday 1562-3 Winȝet I 53/20.
At Pasche and certane Soundays efter 1565–6 Edinb. Old Acc. II 220.
The Sonndayis … betwix Alhalommes and Candilmes

b. comb., with Care- (see Care-Sonday n.), Crist-, Law- (see Law Sonday n.), Palme- (see Palm(e-Sonday n.), Pasch- (see Pas(c)h(e n. 1 b), Trinity- = the Sunday next after Whitsunday. 1504 Perth Guildry p. 156 (15 Nov.).
That nane gildbrether … tak apone hand to by nother woll nor skyne nor hid apone Crist Sonday — 1498 Acta Conc. II 196.
For the tyme on Friday efter Trynite Sonday next 1502 Treas. Acc. II 147.
On Trinite Sonday, the xxij day of Maij, to George Weir, quhen he wes maid herald 1596 Dalr. II 195/14.
The xxi of Maii quhilk is the Trinitie Sonday 1599 St. A. Kirk S. 892.
Thair hes bene yeirly upon Trinitie Sonday in Raderny ane evill custume of pyping, dansing, drinking and misordour

3. a. possess. b. attrib.a. c1420 Wynt. v 5.
Apon the Sonondayis nycht [W. Sonday within nycht] Mary … delyveryd wes off hyr a sown 1474–5 Cart. S. Nich. Aberd. II 332.
The alderman and the consel has set the Sundais fisch … and the ton fracht … til Gilbert Morison 1492 Aberd. B. Rec. I 46.
And to ferme layit to Jonhne of Chamer, the Sondais fische … pertening to Sanct Nihcoles for this yer 1534 Bamff Chart. 65.
Passand eist linallie to ane well callit Sundays well 1555–6 Edinb. B. Rec. II 323.
Gevin to xxviij men for ane Sonndayis wark at the tid 1574 Conv. Burghs I 35.
All Sondayis mercattis dischargit at kirkis in landwart 1595 Bamff Chart. 143. 15… Aberd. B. Rec. MS XX (Jam.).
He askit at him tua Sondais laxis 1683 Fawside Coal Compt 116.
For Sundayes water [12 s.]b. 1583 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 265.
Proclamatioun to be maid that na nychtbouris of this burgh haud or repair to ony Sonday mercatis 1590 Edinb. Test. XXII 75b.
He lewis to David Wyllie his broder his best schoonde garment of claythtis 1602 Dundonald Par. Rec. 10.
Scho caused Sonday wattir to be brocht in earlie befoir ony foull flew ovir it to wasch William Caldwell quhen he wes ill at ease 1604 Dundonald Par. Rec. 51.
Johne Leggat … wes accused of Sonday verk in grinding this day aucht dayes to sundrie folk 1607 Dundonald Par. Rec. 126.
Accuisit of Sonday wark by setting ingill to his malt in Hilhous kill